Method of bleaching cloth.



1:. 11. JEFFERSON.

METHOD OF BLEAGEING CLOTH.

APPLICATION FiLED APE-9. 1903.

Patentkad May 9, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

EUGENE D. JEFFERSON, OF LO'VVELL, I 'SACHUSETTS.

METHOD or BLEacHmG CLOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911;

Application filed April 9, 1908. Serial No. 426,053.

To all whom it may concern:

le it known that I, E GENE D. Jerrnnsox, a citizen of the l'nited States, residing at- Lowell. in the county of llliddlescx and State of .\lassaehusett. have invented certain new and useful .lmprovements in Methods of Bleaching Cloth: and I do hereby declare the following to be ai'ull, clear, and exact de eription otthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the. art to which it appertainsto malte and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in methods of bleaching cloth, and particularly for l)lta('lll1l cotton fabrics. The object of the inv ntion is to den-ease the time required in and the eitpe'nseof bleaching, and at the same time to improve the quality of the work done.

it consists in the method hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings illustrating an apparatus for carrying out the method, Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section. and Figs. 2 and I} are respectively an elevation and a plan of the motive tluid valve pperating mechanism.

The apparatus will tirstbe described, as an uuderstandin; of the. same is necessary to a description of the method. 7

The heir proper 1 consists of a large vessel provided near its bottom with a grid 01' grating. and at its top with a man-hole through which the cloths to hetreatcd are introduced and removed. The cover of the man-hole is not shown. Connected with the bottom of the. heir is a pipe :5 which may be 'called the bottom pi e. it is provided with heck valve 3 which opens away from the k -ir. The bottom-pipe 2 is connected at the cross 4 with the draw-oti' pipe. with the trap or well, and with the top of the heir. The draw-oft pipe 5, by me:=:-.s of which th heir may be emptied, is prmided with a drawotl' valve 6. 'The pipe 7 leads from the cro s 4 to the trap or well. The pipe 1) lea from the cro s 4 to the top of the heir, being pro -\'ided with the injector elu-ck-valve 10 near its point of entrance into the heir and at its discharge end in the heir with the spray head 11. The pipes 2, 7 and t) constitute the vomiting pipe through which liquor is com veyed from the bottom of the (Cir to the top and vomited in upon the fabric. The keir is provided with a test cock 1?. located in its .-ide at what for convenience will be termed the normal level and which is the level i at \Vlllt'll the operator desires to have the liquor in performing certain operations. The heir is also provided with a series of overflow openings at 13 through which the liquor may tlow under certain conditions of use. The lltH-tfil flows from these o 'lenings into an over ow chamber 14, and a pipe 15 is provided to carry away the liquor, aco'ck l6 atiordin'g means for closing this pipe.

This provision of openings for overflow it, will be convenient to refer to as the washing overtlow At the top of the heir a filling overflow and vent pipe 17 provided,

having a cock 18 for closing the same when desired. llerc also is provided a safety valve 19 and a pressure gage 20. A filling pipe 2 is connected with a tee in the bot tom-pipe 2, and allords means for introducin; liquors into the heir. The water admission pipe 22 is connected with this filling pipe 21. So also the chemic pipe 23 and acid pipe 24. These pipes are provided with valvesiwhich may. conveniently be referred to respectively as the water supply \alve, chemic supply valve and acid supply valve. The trap or well 8 constitutes part: of the apparatus or causing the liquor to be witl'alrawn from the bottom of the heir and vomited intermittently into the top. It; compi ises a tank into which the liquor front the heir flows through the. pipes 2 and 7. When the liquor rises in the trap 8 to about the level A, the liquor rising in the pipe 25 enters the pipe 26 which leads to the motive fluid valve operating; mechanism, indicated in a general wayby the reference character 0. The trap S is provided with a passageway pipe 27 which is cured at each end in the opposite walls of the trap. It therefore provides a passageway for the pipe 25 to the regulator. The fact that, it passes through the trap of significance only as atlording a compact construction. The pipe 25 connects with the regulator at 28, and the liquor passes thence through the lower ball-pipe 29 to the ball 30. The. hall 30 is provided with anupper ball-pipe 31 which leads back to the tee 32 and thence through the pipe 33 to the pivot casting, 34; to which the pipe is connect ed at; 36. The pipe 35 passes through a passageway pipe 37 in "the same manner as the pipe 25. The pivot casting 34 is mounted upon a stud 38 secured to the trap 8, The pipes 29, 31 and 33, the ball 30, and

45 lower valve seats.

a I 9a pivot cas'tiug 34 constitute a fr'ame which oscillating about such pivot. A counterweight 39 on the arm 40 which is secured to the pivotpa'stmg affords means for lifting the all 30 when it is emptied. From the tee 32 extends upward a pipe'l-l which is connected by means of a link 42 witlra motive'tiuid controlling valve -13. 10 end of the pipe. 41 is connected h; the aii pipes -14 and 45 with the injector check above the check valve 10.

The pipes 44 and 45 all oi'd a vent for the i ball 30. while the. liquor is flowing into it.

15 They also ttil t ltl tlfilllltltlllitjtttlflll between the hall and the top of the heir when the level of the liquor fallsiu the trap 8 below the level of the ball so as to permit the liquor to run out of the ball. ,It is to be observed that with this valve regulating apparatus. the pipes 27,- 37 and -tel.yi .ld, owing to their elasticity, and the use oistuiing glands and the like is. avoided. v

The motive fluid supply pipe 4-6 leads to the motive fluid controlling valve 423 and the pipe 47- leads from the valve 43 to the. top of the trap or well 8. The pipe 46 conveniently leads to the injector nozzle of the injector check valve 10 and is provided with two valves 4-8 and 49 respectively below and above the steam and air pipe junction therewith. "his" steam and air pipe 50 is connocted with a steam supply pipe 51,pr0vided with a steam supply ,valve 52, and anair supply pipe 53, provided with an air supply valve 54:. i

The opening of the air valve 54 permits air tO.flQ.\V down through the pipe' lti, pipe 47, check .55 and pipe 56, into the top of the to trap, thereby forcing the contents of the trap .out through the pipe 1 and up through the pipe 9 into thetop of the heir. The check valve 55 consists of a casting provided with a ball 55 adapted to engage upper and When the motive fluid is vomiting the contents of the trap or well i into the top of thekeir, the ball will be held against its upper seat-and the communication afi'ordedby the pipes M and betwe .n

)Jthe ball 30 and the top of the heirwill not be disturbed by the passage of motive 5 fluid into these. pipes. Moreover. the loss of to the top of the heir is by this means pre vented. When the. motive fluid is cut oil.

.I, Vhile this apparatus constitutes an ink W mvexaeut on t e apparatus ofniy Patent not claimed herein as it forms the subject,- matter of another application for Letters Patent; filed May 1, 1908, Serial No. 430,335.

\Ve proceed now to a description of my method. Ileretofore, while the boiling processes have been performed in closed heirs, the practice hasnot obtained (iii-subjecting the textiles to the action of bleaching liquor in a closed heir, in withdrawing the bleach; ing liquor from the heir, and in thoroughly aerating the textiles in the heir by saturating them with air, or of subjecting the textiles to the action of a bleaching liquonwhich is aerated as it is introduced into the heir. This has heretofore necessitated the removal 5 of the cloth from the heir after the boiling o 'ieratiomwhen it was subjected to tedious I K0 7713350, dated November 22, 1904;, it is is pivotally mounted at 38 and capable of l @washing and wringing operations, to say ing and bleaching; are preferably carried on in the same vessel without removal therefrom, and securing all the advantages of scouring and contact of the air with the fabric during the bleaching operations. -In carrying out this method theoperations performed are. as follows:-The fabric'is run into the heir and trod'den down in the u ual way after which the chains are put in p ace and the manhole is closed. 'lhereupon the boiling operations are performed substantially as described in said patent.

For convenience the whole series of opetg. ations'of boiling and bleachingwith the present apparatus will be described in detail. 16 is as follows: First, caustic liquor is introduced through the pipe 21 and brought to a proper level in the heir. The

are maintained in equilibrium through the connection atlorded by the pipes to and 56, so that, as the litpior rises in-the heir, the liquor \YlllfloiY t trough the pipes 2 and 7 will rise in the trap until it reaches the level A, when it will llow into .the ball'SO and cause the ball to falh-thereby opening the T511? 4.3. After a Suii cioutam unt. of my tic li uor is inu'oduced into thekeir, the valve admitting the caustic liquor is closed,-- l the cool: at) is closed, the cock 48 is opened,- and the steam cock-52 is opened, admitting a steam from the steam pipe 51 into the pipe 46. The steam will tlow through the )ipe 46, through the valve l3 (which is now htild open pipe s7, through the check valve 55, and through the pipo'otl, into the top of the trap 8. The pressi'ire of the steam will force the i by the falling of, the ball 30), through the. l l l l penseat, thvreby "closing the passage be- 1 ball 55" of the heck valve. 55 against its upthe presentinvention the operations of boilpressures in the top and bottom of the heir and the check valve 3 into the trap 8 and tween the vent pipe 45' and the top of the heir, and t...- steam will force the liquor in the -trap out through the pipe 4. thereby closing. the check valve 3). and the liquor will then flow up through the pipe 9 and be vomited into the top of the heir. After the trap S has been emptied the ball 30 will rise, the valve 43 willtherehy be closed. the steani will be cut oti' from the tr: 8, and the connection will be reestablishe between the top and bottom of the heir through the pipes 4.3 and 5t owing to the fall of the ball-*inthe chech'valve the liquor will then gradually flow out of the heir through the pipes 2 and 4 into the trap 8 until it reaches the lever A. whereupon tl.e liquor will again till the ball 30 which will fall and open the valve 43. admitting the steam, and the operations will thus antonmtically continue. This boiling operation will he continued from seven to ten hours. V v

At the completion of the boiling operation the washing process is performed. First,

the caustic liquor is drawn ottthrough the draw-otl' pipe Clean water is then run in trout the water admission pipe through the filling pipe .21. and allowed to tiow through the fabric and out through the was-hin uverllow pipe 15, the valve 16 being opened for this purpose. This washing proc will be continued vfor about an 'hour and a halt. The time of washing will depend somewhat upon the pressure of water used.

as with higher pressures more water will be passed through the cloth in a given length of time than with lower pressures. At this stage. accordin; to the old methods of bleaching, the cloth would be ready to be. removed from the heir, but aeeordimg to the present invention. and in the practice of my improved method of bleaching. the bleaching will now he begun without. removal of' the cloth from the heir.

The washing process having been completed to the extent usual in the washing of goods after the caustic or boiling: operation, the water admission valve is closed. and the washing overflow valve In is closed, and the draw-oh" valve ("v is opened. and the water is drawn down to the normal level. This will .be ascertained by opening the 'test valve when the draw-off valve is opened: then the. cessation of the flow of water therefrom indicates thatthe normal level has been reached. The final washing of the cloth, preparatm'y"to the bleaching-process, is now accomplished by closing the valve 4}). opening the valve 48, and opening'the compressed air valve 54 which admits compressed air to the apparatus. The operation of the apparatus when operated by compressed air differs from its operation when ope'ratedby steam, in. that while in the op eration by steam the condensation ;of the 'steam keeps the liquor hpt and'secures the intermittent or.vomiting operation of the apparatus, when operated by com pressed air the air will blow the water from the trap 8 i into the top of the heir until it blows air out through the relief or safety valve 19, by t which time the ball 30 will have fallen, and the valve 43 will have been closed, thereby ret stablishing con'nnunieation between the top and bottom of the ltier, and permitting E the water to tiow out of the bottom of the I t i i r t i heir into the trap, This washing or scour- 1 i in;' operation is continued for about an hour, t to remove the last traces of caustic from the fabric. The compressed air is now shut off, and clean 'ater is again run into the heir,. d iving: out the water which has o'een used through the washing overflow as before. I The water is now 1 orawn oil' from the kier. .This is conveniently accomplished by opening the draw-otl' valve. 6 to allow the water to flow out at the bottom, and at the same time opening the cock 4%), closing the cock 48, andopening the compressed air valve 54, so that the compressed air being forced into the top of the heir drives the water out at the. bottom. The fabric is now'ready" for the. chctnic. (hetnic is now run into the heir from the chemic tanh through the chemic pipe 33, until the level of the chelnic in the heir rises to the normal level. The supply of ehemic liquor is then cut ofi". and the compressed air is turned on, and the cloth is suljected. to the operation of the chemic liquor,

ited in at the top for about five hours. 'A peculiar operation of the apparatus during this operation under compressed air and arises from the fact that the cloth opens up when the liquor level rises, and closes down as it falls, thereby causing the cliemic to flowinto the interstices between the cloth, and to be squeezed out of such interstices again, as a contapt of the chemic with all parts of the cloth is secured. Ipthis connection it is to be into the heir is thoroughly aerated by pasing expelled by. the entering': liquid. This to be perforated in a closed hei'r. Without the air the operation would be impracticable. It ma y be said, therefore, that an importantof air with the chemic in a closed heir.- The feature of the opening up and closing down of the cloth during the scouring operation is also of importance.

At the completion of the chemic operaehemie tank or into another heir that may be ready-to receive it. This leaves the cloth saturated with air. -This is of'advanta t,

as it secures thethurough aeration of result of which a very thorough and effective sagethrorgh the compressed air which is bewhich is drawn out at the bottom and vomwith a limited amountof liquor in the heir 4 observed that the chem'iewhen it is vomited feature of the invention resides in the use tion' the chemic is blown back into the aeration of the eh emic enables the operation F, 1 a r or into another .keir .readyto receive -1t. The bleaching o stlons having been completed, the goo are again washed. with water for about t-wo'hours. The cloth is then read for starching and the cloth'is, therefore ,run out 01': thekeir u-epar'atory to the stars. ing, and inasmuch as it will hot.

occupy any additional time, it may be found convenient to run it through. a washingmachine before running itJL-te the'bin ready for the sturchiiig mirchine.

The 'use of compressed air as the motive.

fluid'ior moving the treating liqnorsis mi advantage over steaxn or certain purposes, inasmuch as it per-nuts the operation of the liquors at. any desired low temperature.

- The method of bleaching cloth herein do scribed is adapted for use in bleaching warp or filling or otheifl textiles- The method is also adopted for use in other. processes than bleaching within the scope of the claims. .It is also to be remarked that other apparatus than that described'hereifr may be employed for carrying" out "this method, although such-apparatus theibest 'known of which I am aware for-this purpose.

loving thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. The methodoi bleaching textiles which consists in subjecting them to the inter mittcu'o action oftreating' liquor in a closed vessel in the presence'of air, the circulation of the treating liquor being accoinplisher by the air, substantially as' described.

2. The method of treatrngtextiles which consists in subjecting them to the action-of treating liquor und'air' in a closed vessel,

and causing the level of the liquor in the heir to be lntcrinittcntly raised andlowered v by \\'ithdruwing it from the bottom of keir, substantially as described. 3. The method f treating textiles which consists in subjecting themto the action of presence of air, and I causing the level of the liquor in the heir to be intermittently raised by the airnd lowered, substantiallyas described. 7

. 4. The method of bleaching textiles which in subjecting them to the action of. bleaching liquor in a closed vessel in the chicks on intermittent circulation. of the liquor through the textiles, substantially as described. I

5. The method of bleaching textileswhich consists in subjecting them to the notion of bleaching liquor .in a closed vessel and aerating the liquor during the operation, the. air being llllllliflfitl to cause an intermit tent circulation of the bleaching liquor.

scribed.

consists in subjer'itin the textiles to the actron of a bleaching liquor in a closed ken,

thekexr, and in thoroughly aerating-the air, substantially as described. v

7. The method of treating textiles which consists in placing the matter to be treated .in closed keir, and subjecting ft to the action of a'treating. liquor which is aerated. as it is introduced intov the'kci'r, sub'stam tially as described.

' ,8. The. method of tresi ing textiles which consists in subjecting the textiles to the sucliquor and nil in a closed heir, substantially as described.

consists in subjecting them .to the separate, 'successlve'and repeated action vi a bleach stunfielly as described.

ture, in presence of tvgo-witnes s. EUGENED. JEFFERSON.

\Vitnesses:

Henson VAN, Erma-1N,w A exis Q'Rroxmnusox.

treating. liquor in a closed; vessel in: the

.through the textiles, substantially as 'de* 6. 'lihe method of bleaching textiles which i in with-'imwingthe bleaching liquor from.

textiles in the heir by saturating them with -ingliquor and air in a elosedvessel, sub- In testimony whereof I aiiix my signa heir vomiting it into the top of the v as presence of air and utilizing the airto. process'ive and repeated action of a treating 9. The method bleaching testiles which 

